Probably $700 to $3000 per year, and $62 to $250 per month. However, it is not applicable to all countries, states, and types of land. What is the exact land leasing cost? Or, how much do solar companies pay to lease land in the USA? The price depends on several crucial factors, but the average price is approximately $700 to $1800, or $200 per acre per year. This cost may be higher according to the current market land cost. So, the best way to check the recent market value of a specific location, state, country, and discuss with a land owner, and come to the ultimate solution.
How Much Can I Lease My Land for Solar Farm?
The solar farm lease rate varies according to location, recent land demand in the property selling and mortgaging market, land quality, and area etc. However, we have brought here the recent land leasing costs for solar power stations in different states of the USA. So, let’s see and get a real idea of how much solar companies pay to lease land in the United States different states.
State | Average Lease Rate USD/acre/year | Land Lease Range | Land Type | Remarks |
New Jersey | $1,800 | $1,500–3,000 | Farmland, brownfields | High due to grid access & incentives |
California | $1,600 | $800–5,000 | Desert, farmland | Best rates near substations |
New York | $1,500 | $1,000–3,000+ | Pasture, ag land, open fields | Hot market for community solar |
Illinois | $1,400 | $900–2,500 | Corn & soybean farmland | Strong transmission access |
Massachusetts | $1,200 | $800–2,000 | Small farms, open lots | High rooftop & land lease competition |
Iowa | $1,200 | $900–1,500 | Row-crop farmland | Midwestern farmland in demand |
Indiana | $1,150 | $900–1,400 | Ag land, flat cropland | Long-term leases popular |
Michigan | $1,100 | $900–1,500 | Cropland, pastures | Wind/solar hybrid use growing |
Pennsylvania | $1,050 | $800–1,400 | Ag land, reclaimed mining land | Community solar incentives |
Maryland | $1,000 | $800–1,200 | Ag parcels, flat pastures | Small farm-friendly leases |
Georgia | $1,000 | $800–1,200 | Pine timberland, rural fields | Land conversion from timber common |
Texas | $900 | $400–1,200 | Ranchland, cropland, dryland | Large parcels, cheaper rates |
Virginia | $900 | $600–1,300 | Ag land, hay fields | Zoning varies by county |
Wisconsin | $900 | $700–1,200 | Dairy farms, cropland | Community solar expansion underway |
Florida | $850 | $600–1,200 | Pasture, flat wetlands | Limited by wetlands restrictions |
Arizona | $850 | $700–1,000 | Desert scrub, rangeland | Excellent solar irradiance |
North Carolina | $800 | $600–1,000 | Farmland, pine forests | Strong history of solar growth |
Minnesota | $800 | $600–1,000 | Ag land, community solar fields | Focus on small-scale projects |
South Carolina | $700 | $500–900 | Timberland, rural parcels | Lower demand, steady growth |
Colorado | $600 | $400–800 | Plains, dry pastureland | Sparse grid limits pricing |
How Much Can You Make Leasing Land for Solar Farm
The cost of land leasing for a solar power station by state in the USA may be $700, $1300, $1500, $2000, and up to $3000 per acre per year. This cost is based on the land quality and land leasing priority. If you think that I want to lease my land for a solar farm, then you must have a large amount of land (big area), whereas a solar panel company can use it to create a solar power plant.
If you have 1 acre of medium-quality land, then you can easily earn around $600 to $2500 per year. This is a liquid money that a solar panel installer company will pay you per year. On the other hand, they can pay you monthly basis by dividing your yearly earnings.
How Much is the Solar farm Lease Rates Per Acre per Month?
Approximately $150 to $250 or sometimes more than that, based on land quality, location, or country, and agreement between the land owner and the solar panel company authority. It is very simple to calculate the monthly solar farm land leasing rate per acre.
For example, how much are the solar farm land lease rates in Pennsylvania? The average land lease rate is around $1000 per year per acre. Now divide this amount by 12 (12 months = 1 year). So, $1000/12 = $83 monthly land lease rate. Therefore, if the yearly land lease cost becomes $3000, then $3000/12 = $250 monthly leasing cost. So, get the real land leasing rate by applying this formula.
Is Leasing Land for Solar Farms Profitable?
Yes, leasing land is a low-risk, high-stability income source. So, let’s see why leasing land for solar farms is profitable because
- Steady passive income: Landowners earn $500 to $2,000+ per acre annually.
- Long-term contracts: Leases last 25 to 40 years with annual escalations.
- Low maintenance: The solar developer handles all installation and upkeep.
- Unused land becomes income-generating.
- Tax incentives: Land use may qualify for agricultural or green tax breaks.
Does Leasing Land for a Solar Farm Affect Its Resale Value?
Yes, leasing land for a solar farm can affect its resale value in the USA, both positively and negatively. It is noted that the resale value can increase if sold to an investor. On the other hand, this property value may decrease if the buyer wants unrestricted land use.
Final Thought
Leasing land for a solar farm is a good idea for making a ground-mounted or water-mounted solar power station. In that case, the major fact is how much solar companies pay to lease land. The cost can fluctuate, but we have discussed this above. So, if someone has a huge land and no crops grow on there, such land may be the best monthly or yearly earning way.